Recovery from Abusive Groups Page i
Recovery From Abusive Groups
About the Author
Wendy Ford was recruited into a Bible-based cult in 1973 while a freshman at
college. She was in the cult for seven years. While involved, she completed two
intensive leadership indoctrination programs, a survival program which included
shooting firearms and hitchhiking alone, and traveled throughout the United
States. On May 16, 1980, after one failed deprogramming the previous Fall, she
was successfully deprogrammed by her parents. After returning home, she
completed her B.A at Harvard University while working.
Ms. Ford has counseled many ex-cultists, their families, and friends. She has
been interviewed extensively on cults both by the media and the government.
She has appeared on local and national television and has lectured to many
groups, including high school, college, law enforcement, and religious
audiences. From 1987 to 1990 she was the New England Director for FOCUS, an
ex-cultist support group and is presently a Research Associate with the
American Family Foundation.
After several years in electronic publishing, Ms. Ford is in the process of
changing careers. She is attending graduate school for a Masters in Education
and for state certification as a middle school social studies teacher, both to be
completed in June of 1994. She is also involved with a women's group, local
Unitarian Universalist parish, and sings jazz. She lives with her fiancé in a
Boston suburb.
Recovery From Abusive Groups
About the Author
Wendy Ford was recruited into a Bible-based cult in 1973 while a freshman at
college. She was in the cult for seven years. While involved, she completed two
intensive leadership indoctrination programs, a survival program which included
shooting firearms and hitchhiking alone, and traveled throughout the United
States. On May 16, 1980, after one failed deprogramming the previous Fall, she
was successfully deprogrammed by her parents. After returning home, she
completed her B.A at Harvard University while working.
Ms. Ford has counseled many ex-cultists, their families, and friends. She has
been interviewed extensively on cults both by the media and the government.
She has appeared on local and national television and has lectured to many
groups, including high school, college, law enforcement, and religious
audiences. From 1987 to 1990 she was the New England Director for FOCUS, an
ex-cultist support group and is presently a Research Associate with the
American Family Foundation.
After several years in electronic publishing, Ms. Ford is in the process of
changing careers. She is attending graduate school for a Masters in Education
and for state certification as a middle school social studies teacher, both to be
completed in June of 1994. She is also involved with a women's group, local
Unitarian Universalist parish, and sings jazz. She lives with her fiancé in a
Boston suburb.
